Broom-corn-fiber sorting and sizing machine.



No. 870,280. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

R. D. GALLAGHER, Sn.

BROOM CORN FIBER SORTING AND SIZING MAGHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 17.1905.

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APPLIOATION IILED MAY 17.1905.

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R. D. GALLAGHER, SR. BROOM CORN FIBER SORTING AND SIZING MACHINE.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY I'I. 1906.

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PATENTED NOV. 5. 1907.

R. D.v GALLAGHER, Sn. BROOM CORN FIBER SORTING- AND SIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17.1905.

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No. 870,280. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907;

R. D. GALLAGHER, s3.

BROOM GORN FIBER SORTING AND SIZING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 17.1905.

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No. 870,280. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

R. D. GALLAGHER, SE. BROOM OORN FIBER SORTING AND SIZING MAOHINE.

APPLIOATION TILED MAY 17.1905.

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No. 870,280; PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. R. D. GALLAGHER, SB.

' BROOM GORN FIBER SORTING AND SIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17.1905.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, 04 c 7 O 9 1 5 V O N D E T N E T A PL S R E H G A L L A G D O 8 0 7 8 0 N BROOM CORN FIBER SORTING ANDSIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1905.

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UNITED STATES RICHARD D. GALLAGHER, SR., OF LAMAR, COLORADO.

BROOM-CORN-FIBEB SORTING AND SIZING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed May 17.1905. Serial No. 260.899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD D. GALLAGHER, Sr., a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lamar, in the county ofProwers and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Broom-Corn- Fiber Sorting and Sizing Machines, and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for sorting and sizing broom-cornfibers, and has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiedin a machine which separates the fibers from their stalks, sorts thefibers into grades with reference to size, and finally brings the fibersof each grade exactly to a size.

The object of the invention is to provide mechanism for sorting andsizing broom-corn fibers, which will permit the flexible tips of all thefibers to be retained.

In broom manufacture, as usually practiced, the fibers, attached totheir stalks, are secured to the han dle of the broom and the brush endsare then trimmed off to give an even sweeping surface, in this way,sacrificing a large part of the best sweeping portion of the fibers. Toobviate this serious loss, Ipropose to sort the fibers as individualfibers, and, in the final operation, the fibers are to be assembledalong their natural fine tips and trimmed to a size along theirbutt-ends.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the fibers attached totheir stalks are subjected to the action of a comber for straighteningthe fibers, and then to a separator, which severs them from theirstalks, the separated fibers are then allowed to fall through a screen,which removes portions of stalk and other undesirable matter, areassembled in alinement along their butt-ends, and are then carried overa series of graduated openings, whereby the fibers are sorted intogrades; and, finally, the fibers of each grade are assembled inalinement along their tip ends and trimmed evenly along their butt-ends.However, I do not regard it as essential that all theseinstrumentalities shall be embodied in one machine, indeed, completemechanisms may be formed by combining only certain of these agencies:and, of course, the specific form of each device may be varied widely.

Coming now to a brief identification of the views in the accompanyingdrawings: Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section, on line 1*]. ofFig. 3, of the for ward part of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a continuation of the section shown in Fig. 1, being taken on line22, Fig. f; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the front part of the machine; Fig.4 is a plan view of the rear part of the machine with the coveringboarding shown in Fig. 2 removed, this view being a continua tion ofFig. 3', Fig. 5 is a front end elevation; Fig. 6 is a transversevertical section on line 66, Fig. 3; Fig. 7

is a similar section on line 77, Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic viewof the arrangement of the air-blast system; Fig. 9 is a side elevationof the gripper feeding device, the front guide plate being removed toshow clearly the gripper chain, only a few links of which areillustrated; Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section on line 10-10,Fig. 9; and Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of one of the links of thegripper chain.

Having reference now to the drawings, A is the feeding table upon whichthe fibers attached to their stalks are fed to the endless gripperfeeding device B, mounted on upright sprockets 2 and 3 above the top ofthe table, and driven by belt 1, which extends from pulley 5 towards therear of the machine and passes around pulley 6 on the end of shaft 7 ofthe forward sprocket 2. This feeding device preferably comprises linksI), each of which is provided with a pair of gripping faces b, sodisposed that, by the act of straightening the chain, the gripping faceson each link clamp forcibly against the faces on the two adjoining links(shown more particularly in Fig. 9). These gripping faces are preferablyof rubber, or other resilient material, set in dovetail recesses in theopposing faces of the links.

In the operation of the feeding device, the links on leaving the forwardsprocket close together, seizing the bundles of fibers and carrying themrearward, and as the links begin to pass up and around the rear sprocket3 the gripping faces separate, allowing the bundles to fall. In order toinsure the forcible clamping of the links, I provide at each side of theconveyer a guide plate 13, provided along its inner lower inner portionwith a straight groove b in which run rollers on the ends of the pivotsb of the links, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Further, in ordertofacilitate the feeding operation, I prefer that the gripping faces shallbe set at a slight inclination to the direction of rectilinear movementof the chain, so that, as the links leave the lower portion of theperiphery of front sprocket 2, the opening between the gripping facesmouths rearward as well as downward, the result being that the bundlesof fiber are readily inserted in the conveyor.

While passing rearward in the grip of the feeding device B, the bundlesof fibers are subject ed to the action of mechanisms arranged to enterbetween and pass longitudinally of the fibers, and comprising a comber Gand a separator D, both moving in directions transverse to the path ofthe fibers, but the first operating from the region of the butt of eachbundle toward the tip while the other operates in the reverse direction.The

comber may be of any suitable construction without through opening 0 inthe table, the comberthen passing downward through opening 0 in which stands the outer pulley 0. By this arrangement. the teeth of the comberbelt gradually enter the brush of fibers preventing breaking or injuryof the latter. The point at which the t eeth of the comber begin toenter the fibers is, of course, a little to one side of the conveyer B.After leavingthe coniber, the brushes, still carried in a direction atright angles to their length, come within the Zone of action of theseparator D, which is located at the opposite side of the conveyor 13from the comber. While this separator, may be of anydesiredconstruction, I prefer that it be in the form of a wheel provided on itsperiphery with suitable teeth or other suitable cutting projections. Theseparator operates in opening (I in the feeding table, and moves upwardthrough the butts of the bundles, ripping the fibers apart.

The comber and separator are driven from the main shaft E, passingacross beneath. the machine in advance of its center, through meshingbevel gears e, e, longitudinal counter shaft E at one side of themachine, gear on the front end of this shaft, intermediate gear 0, andmeshing gears 6 c on the separator and inner comber shaft respectively(see Figs. 3 and 5).

As the links of the gripper feeding device B pass upward around sprocket3, the separated fibersare allowed to drop upon reciprocating screen F,over which the fibers are carried by rearward moving toothed conveyers Garranged in parallel above the screen. These conveyers are carried byupright wheels 9 mounted on shaft 20 of sprocket 3, similar wheels 9located to the rear of the screen, and wheels g located above wheels gAs the conveyers G pass upward from wheels g to 9 they pass in front ofan upright wall G, from the top of which an incline G passes downwardand rearward to the surface of boarding g covering the rear part of themachine.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, screen F is formed of a plurality oftransverse upright plates f provided with enlarged heads, diamond shapein cross section, between which the openings extend all the way acrossthe screen. These plates are set in a frame f which is mounted betweenbars H, which extend at opposite sides of the machine all the way to therear thereof, and are supported for reciprocatory motion by hangers It,provided at their upturned ends with rollers h, which travel in groovesW in the side frames of the machine (see Fig. 7). The frame formed bybars H and the transverse hangers h is given a longitudinalreciprocatory movement by eccentrics H located adjacent the two bars andcarried by a transverse shaft H which passes through slots b in the barsand is driven from main shaft E through gear 72 near the end thereof,intermediate gear h and gear h on the end of the eccentric shaft. Theeccentrics operate upon rollers H carried by bars H, and impart to thelatter a reciprocatory movement of considerable speed, but

' short throw.

the teeth of the conveyers G to retain the material, untilthe top of thewall is reached, when the waste is forced out from the teeth of theconveyers by upward and rearward projecting deflectors K secured to theupright posts K of the machine frame, which support the shafts ofconveyer carriers g and 9 Upon leaving the conveyers G, the waste slidesdown incline G2 upon the boarding g.

The fibers that fall through the meshes of the screen, are received by atable L, which extends to the rear of the machine, and are immediatelyassembled in alinement along their butt-ends against areticulated screenM (see Fig. (i), which is located upon the same side of the path oftravel of the fibers as is separator D, such assembling being effectedby means of an air-suction which is created downward throughreciprocating screen F, facilitating the passage of the fiberstherethrough, and through reticulated screen M, which arrests thefibers. The air blast passes through pipe M which leads down throughtable L and across beneath the latter to a longitudinal air conduit ormain M which, at the rear of the machine, has a suitable device M forcreating a suction (see Figs. 6 and 8).

While being assembled against reticulated screen M, the fibers are beingcarried rearward by endless toothed conveyers L mounted on wheels Lcarried by front and rear transverse shafts L and L beneath the table L,the teeth of the conveyers projecting through longitudinal slots L inthe table.- The assembled fibers are delivered by conveyers L to otherlongitudinal toothed conveyers N, which, however, are disposed above thetable. These last conveyers carry the fibers over a series of graduatedopenings L in table L, which increase in length, (taking as thisdimension the one parallel to the length of the fibers), towards therear of the machine, and which open into a stepped series of bins O,-into which the fibers are automatically sorted. This constitutes sortingmechanism for sorting the fibers into lengths, as the screen Fconstitutes sorting mechanism for sorting the available from the uselessmaterial. It

will be noted that conveyers L underlie table L in order not to obstructthe passage of the fibers through the reciprocating screen F upon thetable, while conveyers N overlie the table to permit the fibers to passthrough the openings L in the latter.

Oonveyers N are carried by Wheels N 1 and N secured to transverse shaftsN 3 and N, which are mounted in bearings in the longitudinalreciprocating bars II. By reason of this arrangement, the conveyercarriers are adapted to have a simultaneous longitudinal recipro catorymovement, so that the conveyers have a continous travel over the seriesof graduated openings L, combined with a longitudinal reciprocatorymovement. In this way, the depending teeth of the conveyers not onlyadvance the fibers over the openings, but also serve to shake the fibersthrough the proper openings, insuring that the fibers intended for thefirst and smaller openings shall not be matted in with the longer fibersl and carried on to the larger openings in rear.

Since the fibers have been alined along their buttends, the lateraledges of openings L that are adjacent the travel of these butt-ends arearranged substantially in alinement. On falling through these openings,the fibers are received upon shelves 0 located in the upper portions ofthe bins 0. Here they are again alined in a manner similar to thatemployed for alining the fibers after passing through screen F, but thistime along their tip ends. For this purpose, the wall of each binadjacent the tip ends of the fibers therein is provided above the shelfwith a reticulated upright'screen 0 through which an air suction isproduced through branch pipes O, which lead into the main conduit M.This air suction alines the fibers immediately upon falling on the shelf0 and prepares them for the trimming operation. This latter is performedin the several bins by vertically reciprocating knives O, whosehorizontal blades 0 operate against the surfaces of the shelves justwithin the walls adjacent the butt-ends of the fibers and trim off thesebutt-ends, bringing the fibers in each bin exactly to a size. Each knifehas a depending stem 0 which angles out through an opening 0'- in thewall of the bin and is secured at its lower end to a common knife bar0', which extends longitudinally outside of the bins (see Figs. 2 and7). Vertical reciprocatory movement is imparted to the knife bar bymeans of eccentrics P, P located near the front and rear ofthe bar andoperating against rollers mounted on depending arms 0 Eccentrics P aresecured to transverse 'shafts P, P, which pass through the second andlast bins and are driven by chain P which passes from sprocket P on themain shaft (see Figs. 3 and 6) downward and rearward to sprocket P onknife shaft P. From a second sprocket P on shaft P a chain 1?" passesrearward to sprocket P on shaft P (see Fig. 4).

In each bin, the alincd and trimmed fibers are car ried over the rearedge of the shelf 0, to drop into the lower part of the bin, by means oftoothed conveyers R, which are located beneath the shelf and whose teethtravel through slots 7' therein. Each conveyer passes over two carriersr, 7 at front and rear of the bin, respectively, and carried bytransverse shafts 1", 1", these shafts of all the bins being in the samehorizontal plane immediately below the shelves, and over a lower carrierr" secured to transverse shaft r. There are preferably two convcyers ineach bin, both mounted on carriers ranged in transverse alinement andsecured to the same shafts.

Conveyers R are driven in the following manner: S indicates a small gearborne by knife-bar shaft 1? at one side of the machine and meshing withlarge gear S secured to the end of shaft r of the third bin. The severalshafts r and r are provided with meshing gears R and R the former beingfast on their shafts r and the latter loose on shafts r, with the resultthat gears R and R revolve in opposite directions. Since gears R arefast on the shafts r and gears R are loose on shafts r shafts r aredriven positively in the direction of gears R and shafts r are driventhrough conveyers R in the same direction in opposition to the movementof gears R'-. This arrangement of gearing is shown more particularly inFigs. 4 and 7, in the former view one side of table L being broken awayto show the mechanism beneath.

The remainder of the gearing of the machine will now be discussed. Theshaft 1' that bears large gear S carries at its opposite end (see Fig.4) the pulley 5 already described as driving gripper conveyer B andtoothed conveyer-s G at the front of the machine. The toothed conveyersL, which transport the fibers af er falling through screen F, are drivenin a manner more clearly shown in Fig. 3, part of the table L at theleft of the machine being shown as broken away in this view for thepurpose of clear illustration in this connection. The shaft 1"" of thefirst bin bears at one end outside of the bin a small gear U, whichmeshes with intermediate gear U which meshes in turn with a third smallgear U (see also Fig. 5) on the end of rear shaft L of conveyers LConveyors N are given their continuous travel by means of sprocket T(see Fig. 4), which is carried by shaft r of the fourth bin, chain Tleading forward and downward from said sprocket, sprocket T at thebottom of the machine driven by said chain, second sprocket T mounted onthe same transverse shaft T with sprocket T chain T leading up ward fromsprocket T (see Fig. (3), and sprocket which is carriedby the end offront conveyer shaft N" and receives chain T While, for the sake ofillustrating an operative machine, I have shown certain arrangements ofgearing, I wish it to be understood that i do not consider the specificoperative connection of parts as forming any essential part of theinvention.

The operation of the machine will now be briefly reviewed. The bundlesof fibers are fed to the gripper conveyer B, carried thereby to thescreen F, and distributed over this screen by the toothed conveyers G,the fibers falling through the transverse openings in this r(.ciprocating screen, while the stalks and other waste are carried on byconveyer-s G in front of wall G and deposited upon the surface of themachine. The passage of the fibers through the screen is materiallyassisted by the air blast; and the alining of the fibers at theirbuttends, instead of at their tip-ends. against the reticulated screenat this point, insures that the fibers will not be bent and matted bythe air blast. The fibers are now in condition to be sorted through thegraduated openings L, and are d clivcred by conveyers L to conveyors N,which latter carry the fibers over the openings and by theirreciprocating movement cause said fibers to fall promptly through theproper openings. The fibers in each bin are now realined along theirtip-ends by means of the air-suction, trimmed along their opposite endsby the knives, and deposited by conveyors it in the bottoms of the bins.It will be obvious that, as in the case of screen F, the air-suctionoperates to draw the fibers down through theopenings L".

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with feed inc; mechanismadapted to carry bundles of fibers; of a comber positioned to besupplied by said feeding IHECilfl1lism. 'a separator for severing theindividual fibers from each other located in rear of the comber.conveyer mechanism for transporting the separated fibers, and a tableover which said conveyer travels provided with a series of graduatedsorting openings increasing in size rearward through which the fibers ofincreasing size fall successively.

2. In a broom fiber sorting machine. the combination with sortingmechanism for grading" the individual fibers; of a gripper conveyerlocated in advance of said sorting mechanism and constructed totransport fiber bundles laterally. a comber located at one side of theconveyer and operating transversely away from its path of travel tooperate upon the fiber bundles while held by said conveyer. and aseparator located in rear of the comher at the other side of theconveyer and operating transversely lOO away from said conveyer also tooperate upon the fiber bundles while held thereby.

3. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with feed ing mechanism;of a separator adapted to be supplied with bundles of fibers by saidfeeding mechanism and constructed to sever the individual fibers fromeach other, a reciprocating screen provided with elongated parallelopenings through which the separated fibers pass, conveyor mechanismlocated beneath said screen, and a table under lying said conveyormechanism and provided with a series of graduated sorting openingsincreasing in size rearward through which the screened fibers ofincreasing length fall successively.

4. In a broom fiber sorting machine, the combination of a screen, meansfor creating an air suction therethrough for alining the fibers alongtheir ends against the screen, and means for sorting the alined fibersinto lengths.

5..In a broom fiber sorting machine, the combination of a screen, meansfor creating an air suction therethrough for alining the fibers alongtheir ends against the screen, a table provided with a series ofgraduated sorting openings increasing in size rearward and having oneset of their edges substantially in alinement, and conveyer mechanismfor transporting the alined fibers over said openings with the alinedends of the fibers adjacent the alined edges of the openings.

(i. In a broom corn fiber sizing machine, the combination of a screen,means for creating an air suction there through for alining the fibersalong their ends against the screen, and means for trimming the oppositeends of the fibers.

7. In a broom fiber sorting machine, the combination of means foralining the fibers along their butt-ends, con veyer mechanism fortransporting the alined fibers, a table underlying said conveyermechanism and provided with a series of graduated sorting openingsthrough which the fibers fall having their edges adjacent the path ofthe buttends of the fibers substantially in alinement, shelves beneathsaid openings upon which the fibers fall, means for alining the fibersthereon along their tip ends, and mechanism for trimming the butt-ends.

S. In a broom fiber sorting machine, the combination of a screen, an airconduit leading therefrom, and means for creating an air suction throughsaid screen and conduit for alining the fibers with their butt-endsagainst said screen, conveyer mechanism for transporting the alinedfibers, a table underlying said conveyer mechanism and provided with aseries of graduated sorting openings through which the fibers fallhaving their edges adjacent the butt-ends of the fibers substantially inalinement, shelves beneath said openings upon which the fibers fall, ascreen above each shelf, a branch pipe between each of the -lastnamedscreens and the conduit to create an air suction through the screens,said screens being arranged adjacent the tip ends of the fibers to alinethem along these ends, and trimming mechanism for alining the butt-ends.

9. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a table providedwith a series of graduated sorting openings, of a conveyor fortransporting the fibers over said openings to permit them to falltherethrough, having a continuous forward travel combined with areciprocating movement.

10. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a table providedwith a series of graduated sorting openings, a conveyor located oversaid openings, for transporting the fibers to fall therethrough, wheelcarriers upon which said conveyor is carried, and means for imparting asimultane ous longitudinal reciprocating movement to said carriers.

11. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a table providedwith a series of graduated sorting openings, an endless conveyer havinga continuous travel over said openings and provided with teeth ararngedto depend above the table to transport the fibers over said openings,wheel carriers upon which the conveyer is mounted, and means forimparting a simultaneous longitudinal reciproeating movement to saidcarriers.

12. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a longitudinalframe, and means for imparting reciprocating movement to said frame; ofa screen mounted in the forward part of said frame and provided withelongated par allel openings through which the fibers fall, a tablelocated beneath said screen and provided in rear thereof with a seriesof graduated sorting openings, transverse shafts mounted in the rearportion of the frame, a conveyor car ried by said shafts and disposedabove the graduated openings, and means for giving said conveyer acontinuous travel to distribute the screened fibers through saidopenings.

13. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a screen providedwith elongated parallel openings through which the fibers fall, a tablelocated beneath said screen and provided in rear thereof with a seriesof graduated sorting openings, the portion of said table immediatelybeneath said screen having a longitudinal slot; of an endless conveyermounted beneath said slotted portion of the table and provided withteeth arranged to travel through the slot and project above the surfaceof the table, and a second endless conveyer mounted above the aperturedportion of the table and provided with teeth arranged to projectdownward and travel over the surface thereof.

14. In a sorting machine, the combination with a table having a seriesof graduated sorting openings, and conveyer mechanism arranged totransport the fibers over the table to permit them to fall through saidopenings; of a series of bins beneath the openings, each bin beingprovided in its upper portion with a slotted shelf upon which the fibersfall, trimming mechanism for bringing the fibers to a size, and conveyermechanism operating in the slotted shelf to carry the sized fibers overthe edge thereof into the lower portion of the bin. I

15. In a fiber sorting mechanism, the combination of a carrierconstructed to convey broom-corn, and a comber comprising a travelingbelt provided with teeth and arranged at an incline to the path of saidcarrier, whereby said teeth enter gradually between the broom-cornfibers as they pass along the length of said fibers.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of acarrier constructed to convey broom-corn, a comber arranged in the pathof said carrier, means constructed to sever the broom-corn fibers fromeach other, and a screen constructed to separate the fine fibers fromthe stalks and coarse particles, said screen comprising a series ofvertical plates provided with enlarged heads.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of acarrier constructed to convey broom-corn, a comber arranged in the pathof said carrier, means constructed to sever the broom-corn fibers fromeach other, a screen constructed to separate the finer fibers from thestalks and coarse particles, a second screen arranged below the firstand adjacent to one side thereof. and meansconstructed to induce acurrent of air progressively through said first and second screens andthereby assemble the screened fibers with their ends against said secondscreen.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination withfeeding mechanism, of means constructed to sever the individualbroom-corn fibers from each other, a screen constructed to separate thefine fibers from stalks and coarse material, endless carriers providedwith projections disposed to travel immediately above the surface of thescreen and remove the stalks and coarse particles therefrom, and meansarranged adjacent the path of said carriers and constructed to removesuch material.

19. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination of a carrier constructedto carry broom-corn, a comber arranged in the path of said carrier,means constructed to sever the broom corn fibers from each other, ascreen constructed to separate the fine fibers from the stalks andcoarse material, means constructed to assort the screened fibers intodesired lengths, and means constructed to assemble the asorted fiberswith their fine tip ends in juxtaposition.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination offeeding mechanism, a comber arranged in the path of such feedingmechanism, means constructed to sever the broom corn fibers from eachother, a screen constructed to separate the fine fibers from stalks andcoarse particles, means constructed to assort the screened fibers intodesired lengths, means constructed to assemble the assorted fibers withtheir fine tips in juxtaposition,

and means constructed to trim the butt-ends of such assembled fibers tobring the fibers to a uniform length.

217 In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism, of an endless feeding device passing adjacent thefield of operations of said first-named mechanism and constructed tohold the fibers securely while operated upon thereby. said feedingdevice comprising a series of gripping jaws arranged to receive thematerial between them at a feeding point and to deliver the material tosaid sorting mech-' anim.

22. In a fiber sorting mechanism. the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers. and withsorting mechanism. of an endless feeding device passing adjacent thefield of opera-r tion of said first named mechanism and constructed tohold the fibers securely while operated upon thereby. said feedingdevice comprising a series of gripping jaws an ranged to present at thefeeding point rearward directed closing gripping mouths formed betweenthem and to de liver the material to said sorting mechanism.

22",. In a fiber sorting mechanism, the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism. of an endless chain feeding device passing adjacentthe field of operation of said first-named mechanism and constructed tohold the fibers securely while operated upon thereby. said feedingdevice comprising links having complementary gripping faces formedbetween them and arranged to deliver the fibers to said sortingmechanism.

:24. In a fiber sorting machine. the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism. of wheel carriers, and an endless chain feedingdevice carried thereby adjacent the field of operation of saidfirst-named mechanism and constructed to hold the fibers securely whileoperated upon thereby and to deliver the fibers to said sortingmechanism, said feeding device comprising pivoted links having grippingfaces extending outward from the plane of the pivots.

25. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism, of an endless feeding device passing adjacent thefield of operation of said first-named mechanism and constructed to holdthe fibers securely while operated upon thereby and to deliver thefibers to said sorting mechanism. said feeding device comprisingresilient gripping jaws arranged to close upon the material at a feedingpoint and to release the material at said sorting mechanism.

26. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudr nally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism, of an endless chain feeding device passing adjacentthe field of operation of said first-named mechanism and constructed tohold the fibers securely while operated upon thereby and to deliver thefibers to said sorting mechanism, said feeding device comprising pivotedlinks having dovetailed sockets extending outward from the plane of thepivots, and resilient gripping faces inserted in said sockets.

27. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudinally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism, of an endless feeding device passing adjacent thefield of operation of said firstnamed mechanism and comprising a seriesof jaws arranged to hold the fibers securely between them while operatedupon by said mechanism and to deliver the [ibers to said sortingmechanism. and of means for holding said jaws closed when adjacent thefield of op eration o1- said first-named mechanism.

28. In a fiber sorting machine the combination with mechanism forentering between and passing longitudr nally of the fibers, and withsorting mechanism, of an endless chain feeding device constructed tohold the fibers securely while operated upon by the first-namedmechanism and lo deliver the fibers to said sorting mechanism. saidfeeding device comprising links having complementary gripping facesarranged to be closed together by the straightening of the chain whenadjacent the field of operation of said first-named mechanismv 29. In afiber sorting machine, the combination with mechanism for enteringbetween and passing longitudi nally ot' the fibers, and with sortingmechanism, of an endless chain feeding device comprising links havingcomplemcnlary gripping faces and operating to convey the fibers withinthe field of operation of said first-named mechanism and to deliver themto said sorting mechanism, and of a guide arranged to engage with saidlinks when adjacent the field of operation of said first-named means toinsure secure gripping of the fibers.

:50. In a fiber sorting machine, the combination with a feeding table,opposed wheel-carriers mounted thereover, sorting mechanism disposedadjacent one of said carriers, and mechanism operating transverselybetween said carriers to enter between and pass longitudinally of thefibersfof an endless chain feeding device carried by the carriers,complementary gripping faces formed between the links of the chain andarranged to close together be tween the carriers, pivot pins connectingthe links, rollers mounted on the ends of said pins and a guide locatedbetween the carriers for engagement with said rollers to insure theclosing of the gripping faces when adjacent the field of operation ofsaid transversely operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the pres ence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RICHARD D. GALLAGHER, SR.

Witnesses EARLE GAMIN, liar E. ADAMS.

